Odidiomo: Selfless service to Ibadan NW/SW federal constituency
By Yinka Oladoyinbo
The people of Ibadan northwest/southwest federal constituency of Oyo state have been having representatives since the advent of the present republic in 1999 with some of them being able to touch and affect their lives directly and indirectly with programmes, policies, bills, motions and projects. These members of the green chambers of the national assembly have tried in their modest ways to ensure that the people of the 23 wards that make up the federal constituency feel the impact of their representation. From the Alliance for Democracy (AD) member that pioneered the representation in this republic, Hon Babatunde Oduyoye, from 1999 to 2007, to the Peoples Democratic (PDP) member, Hon Folake Olunloyo, 2007 to 2011 and that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi 2011 to 2019, the people had various tales and experience to tell about the men and woman that they had put forward as their voice in Abuja.
However, when the people of the area went to poll in 2019 to elect a representative, they elected a fresh blood with the belief that he would change the narratives and give them qualitative representative that would make them primus interpares among the fourteen federal constituencies in the pace setter state. The election brought in Hon Dhikrullahi Adedeji Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, a candidate of the PDP into office and since then the songs on the lips of the people have changed as they were exposed to representation like never before.
While crisscrossing the entire wards of the constituency during the electioneering prior to his election in the first tenure, Adedeji, who was code named “Baba Amona”, literally meaning “the promise keeper”, entered into convenant with the people to contribute to their development and ensure that their status and that of their children was upgraded to what is expected of a twenty first century society.
Upon assumption of office in 2019, both members and non members of the PDP from the two local government areas heaved a sigh of relieved as they were exposed to representation that complemented the efforts of the State governor, Seyi Makinde, at making the state worthy of living for the inhabitants. While some new members of the national assembly used their first two years or the entire first tenure as a learning process, Adedeji, hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration with programmes and activities that made the people had a positive impact of his membership of the house of representatives.
Adedeji, who was a member of some committees of the house made good use of the opportunity to empower his constituents in various areas like agriculture, health, education, information technology and personal development.
His election into the national assembly for a second term in 2023 afforded him the opportunity to expand and deepen his contribution to the human and capital development of his people. Upon his inauguration for a second term in the green chambers, Odidiomo was made the Chairman, house committee on Digital and Information Technology, member Committee on Agric Colleges and Institutions, Member, Committee on Basic Education Examination Boards, Member Committee on Constitutional Review, Member, Committee on National Security and Intelligence and other notable standing committees of the house.
This had made him to move various motions and to sponsor bills that could further make life comfortable for the people. Some of the motions include, “The bill for an act to provide a framework for the appointment of staff of the office of the National Security Adviser to enhance institutional memory and effective performance of the responsibilities of the National Security Adviser and other related matters”.
“Motion on the Need to Investigate the Untold Hardship Face by Nigerian Pilgrims at the Recently Concluded 2023 Hajj (13th July 2023). Motion On Matter of Urgent Public Importance on The Need To Curb The Leakage o
